Readout of BidenHarris Administration Convening with Health Care Community Concerning Cyberattack on Change Healthcare HHSgov
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ppLeaders from HHS White House DOL and the health care community convened to discuss ways to mitigate harms to patient and providers caused by the cyberattackppOn Tuesday March 12 the US Department of Health and Human Services HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm led a convening of health care community leaders joined by White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden White House Deputy National Security Advisor DNSA for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger and others from the federal government to discuss concrete actions to mitigate harms to patients and providers caused by the cyberattack on Change HealthcareppOver the weekend Secretary Becerra and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su called on UnitedHealth Group UHG and other payers to meet the moment urging actions that complement those taken by the BidenHarris Administration to ensure patients access to care and support providersppSecretary Becerra and Domestic Policy Advisor Tanden made clear the government and private sector must work together to help providers make payroll and deliver timely care to the American people and that insurers help providers in this moment of challenge Since February 21 when HHS first learned of the Change Healthcare attack it has been in nearconstant communication with countless stakeholders to understand the impact on the ground and step in to help facilitate solutions with urgency Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services CMS Administrator Chiquita BrooksLaSure also announced that guidance to states is forthcoming to provide needed flexibilities for states to support Medicaid providers and suppliers during this timeppBidenHarris Administration officials directly heard concerns from representatives of provider groups hospitals childrens health providers physicians infusion centers pharmacies community health centers longterm care facilities across the country on the broad impact the cyberattack on Change Healthcare has had on the health care sector They highlighted gaps in the response from payers including the need for more immediate payment options direct communications and relaxed billing and claims processing requirementsppHealth care payers were then called upon and committed to continued coordination to meet the need considering additional steps to reduce red tape provide accessible funding opportunities through advanced payments and through other means to provide productive solutions to address the cash flow issues that providers are experiencing BidenHarris Administration officials called upon the payers to respond with urgency and noted they will followup with the payer community about the actions and commitments voiced todayppThe DNSA Neuberger noted the interconnectedness of the domestic health care ecosystem and the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity resiliency across the sector by implementing HHSs voluntary HPH Cyber Performance Goals CPGs Department of Labor Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Ali Khawar reminded the participants of DOLs Cybersecurity Program Best Practices for plan sponsors plan fiduciaries record keepers and plan participants in the health care communityppList of Administration participantsppList of Stakeholder participantsppThese efforts are part of HHS broader cybersecurity strategy HHS continues to urge everyone to implement the aforementioned CPGs designed to help health care organizations strengthen cyber preparedness improve cyber resiliency and ultimately protect patient health information and safetyppHHS Actions on Change Healthcare to DateppOnce the US Department of Health and Human Services HHS was notified of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare systems on February 21 2024 HHS acted to address the impacts Within first 24 hours the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response ASPR in its role as sector risk management agency stood up an interagency response team and began coordinating with federal partners eg Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Federal Bureau of Investigations Veterans Affairs and across HHS to develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation and to coordinate the federal response HHS began direct communication with UnitedHealth Group UHG leadership on day one with an initial focus on scope and magnitude of impactppHHS continued coordination as the situation progressed continuing engagement with UHG to both assess timeline to restoration and systemwide impacts and to press UHG for a swift and effective response to mitigate harms to patients and providers ASPR continues to lead interagency actions including the development and distribution of actionable threat intelligence with the healthcare sector and actions to ensure a systemwide response coordination with Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration for potential private market supports and communication with industryppHHS has also been in consistent communication with other private sector health care entities including private payers and clearinghouses to ensure a systemwide response to increase claims flow and advanced payments wherever appropriate HHS is in regular contact with state partners and with numerous external stakeholders including physicians hospitals pharmacies and other health care providers to understand the nature of the impacts and to assess the effectiveness of the systemwide response As CMS has received reports of any obstacles with claims processing or enrollment delays the Agency has followed up with the Medicare Administrative Contractors MACs to troubleshoot issues HHS is working with Members of Congress to facilitate assistance to providers and hospitals struggling with cash flow issuesppHHS through ASPR and in partnership with Office of the Chief Information Officer OCIO conducted a comprehensive initial assessment of impacts on agencies within HHS and continues to monitor for additional impacts As a result the Indian Health Service IHS and Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA are communicating with leaders to address and mitigate effectsppAnd last HHS through the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services took the following policy and administrative actionsppKey ActionsppReceive the latest updates from the Secretary Blogs and News ReleasesppReceive latest updatesppppFor general media inquiries please contact mediahhsgovppReceive the latest updates from the Secretary Blogs and News Releasespp200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington DC 20201
Toll Free Call Center 18776966775p
Official websites use gov
A gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States
pp
Secure gov websites use HTTPS
A lock LockA locked padlock or https means youve safely connected to the gov website Share sensitive information only on official secure websites
ppLeaders from HHS White House DOL and the health care community convened to discuss ways to mitigate harms to patient and providers caused by the cyberattackppOn Tuesday March 12 the US Department of Health and Human Services HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm led a convening of health care community leaders joined by White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden White House Deputy National Security Advisor DNSA for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger and others from the federal government to discuss concrete actions to mitigate harms to patients and providers caused by the cyberattack on Change HealthcareppOver the weekend Secretary Becerra and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su called on UnitedHealth Group UHG and other payers to meet the moment urging actions that complement those taken by the BidenHarris Administration to ensure patients access to care and support providersppSecretary Becerra and Domestic Policy Advisor Tanden made clear the government and private sector must work together to help providers make payroll and deliver timely care to the American people and that insurers help providers in this moment of challenge Since February 21 when HHS first learned of the Change Healthcare attack it has been in nearconstant communication with countless stakeholders to understand the impact on the ground and step in to help facilitate solutions with urgency Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services CMS Administrator Chiquita BrooksLaSure also announced that guidance to states is forthcoming to provide needed flexibilities for states to support Medicaid providers and suppliers during this timeppBidenHarris Administration officials directly heard concerns from representatives of provider groups hospitals childrens health providers physicians infusion centers pharmacies community health centers longterm care facilities across the country on the broad impact the cyberattack on Change Healthcare has had on the health care sector They highlighted gaps in the response from payers including the need for more immediate payment options direct communications and relaxed billing and claims processing requirementsppHealth care payers were then called upon and committed to continued coordination to meet the need considering additional steps to reduce red tape provide accessible funding opportunities through advanced payments and through other means to provide productive solutions to address the cash flow issues that providers are experiencing BidenHarris Administration officials called upon the payers to respond with urgency and noted they will followup with the payer community about the actions and commitments voiced todayppThe DNSA Neuberger noted the interconnectedness of the domestic health care ecosystem and the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity resiliency across the sector by implementing HHSs voluntary HPH Cyber Performance Goals CPGs Department of Labor Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Ali Khawar reminded the participants of DOLs Cybersecurity Program Best Practices for plan sponsors plan fiduciaries record keepers and plan participants in the health care communityppList of Administration participantsppList of Stakeholder participantsppThese efforts are part of HHS broader cybersecurity strategy HHS continues to urge everyone to implement the aforementioned CPGs designed to help health care organizations strengthen cyber preparedness improve cyber resiliency and ultimately protect patient health information and safetyppHHS Actions on Change Healthcare to DateppOnce the US Department of Health and Human Services HHS was notified of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare systems on February 21 2024 HHS acted to address the impacts Within first 24 hours the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response ASPR in its role as sector risk management agency stood up an interagency response team and began coordinating with federal partners eg Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Federal Bureau of Investigations Veterans Affairs and across HHS to develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation and to coordinate the federal response HHS began direct communication with UnitedHealth Group UHG leadership on day one with an initial focus on scope and magnitude of impactppHHS continued coordination as the situation progressed continuing engagement with UHG to both assess timeline to restoration and systemwide impacts and to press UHG for a swift and effective response to mitigate harms to patients and providers ASPR continues to lead interagency actions including the development and distribution of actionable threat intelligence with the healthcare sector and actions to ensure a systemwide response coordination with Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration for potential private market supports and communication with industryppHHS has also been in consistent communication with other private sector health care entities including private payers and clearinghouses to ensure a systemwide response to increase claims flow and advanced payments wherever appropriate HHS is in regular contact with state partners and with numerous external stakeholders including physicians hospitals pharmacies and other health care providers to understand the nature of the impacts and to assess the effectiveness of the systemwide response As CMS has received reports of any obstacles with claims processing or enrollment delays the Agency has followed up with the Medicare Administrative Contractors MACs to troubleshoot issues HHS is working with Members of Congress to facilitate assistance to providers and hospitals struggling with cash flow issuesppHHS through ASPR and in partnership with Office of the Chief Information Officer OCIO conducted a comprehensive initial assessment of impacts on agencies within HHS and continues to monitor for additional impacts As a result the Indian Health Service IHS and Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA are communicating with leaders to address and mitigate effectsppAnd last HHS through the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services took the following policy and administrative actionsppKey ActionsppReceive the latest updates from the Secretary Blogs and News ReleasesppReceive latest updatesppppFor general media inquiries please contact mediahhsgovppReceive the latest updates from the Secretary Blogs and News Releasespp200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington DC 20201
Toll Free Call Center 18776966775p
